Related Posts with Thumbnails

Friday, July 23, 2010

MY Children and Flea Markets Do NOT Mix

Happy Friday. 

I thought I would share my flea market story with you.  Last weekend I went to one of my favorite flea markets at The Port of Entry in Getzville.  Not too big that it takes all day, not too expensive that you feel sad that you didn't find any treasures to take home.  Just RIGHT that not only do you find several treasures......they are priced just RIGHT.

I had planned to forgo this flea market because Mr. M. was out of town on business and it meant taking all THREE children with me.  Yeah, I was not excited about having to say NO a million times.....but......it.... is.... my..... favorite..... flea market.  Now I know where my little guy gets his whining from.  Anyway, with the promise of Tim Hortons Tim Bits (if you have never heard of Tim Hortons, they have the best coffee and donuts) I was able to bribe the kids to come with mom.  I think I also agreed to a trip to the pond and I think I vaguely remember I heard myself say yes to a toy.....but I am not to sure about that one.

I normally like to get there early, as in I am among the first on the field.  We arrived mid morning and I had already heard, "how long is this going to take, I have to go pee and can I look at the toys."  I was already wondering if I made the right decision. 

We continue on, I first visit my friend Nancy, whom once worked with me at my old shop.  Of course she has a wonderful quilt that has my summer colors of red, white and blue.



After chatting with her for as long as I could get the kids to stand still, off we went to look in the field.  I spotted a guy selling faux floral.  I found a few that I liked, for when the gardens are under a foot of snow.



I can see them wrapped in burlap or pretty tissue paper and a big silk bow.


We wandered around the flea market for about as long as I could take it.  It was in the upper 80's and I was out of Tim Bits.  The kids were starting to revolt on me.  OK, you may have one, only one toy.  I know, you are not supposed to give in...never.....ever....but.  In my defense, it was my FAVORITE flea market, my husband had been out of town for almost a week.  I was trying to preserve my sanity. 

We found the little guy a toy, that made him happy for a little while.  In the mean time I found these awesome ceiling tins.  I was standing at the booth trying to figure out what I could do with them.  There were three different kinds and of course the price got better the more you bought.  As much as I loved them, I did not want to buy too many for the project I had in mind.  Ok I guess I will just have to give up on that idea. 

We wandered around some more and I found this perfect petite brass chandelier.  It needed some wiring and all of the crystals were missing.  The guy offered a price, I said lower and YEAH he said yes.  I was dancing and my kids just look at MOM like she is the crazy one!



Isn't it awesome. 
 I am talking about the chandelier, not the tin behind it.




Who is CRAZY now. 

Say hello to my new bathroom chandelier. 
 Oh that rewiring that needed to be done, did it! 
The missing crystals, had a stash in the basement for just such an emergency.


Now I am sure you did not miss the tin peaking out from behind the chandelier. 

I could not stop thinking about it.  Well almost, because the little guy was in full blown tears, it seems his brother had picked out a toy that was better than his.  I had to get them out of there and fast. 
 So I did one more look at the ceiling tins, took measurements and said my goodbyes.

Now on the drive home we pass GRANDMA'S house, look she is home.  IDEA.  I quick drove home, did some measurements to see how many tins I would need for my project. 
Called grandma.  Of course she would watch the kids for a few minutes while I went BACK to the flea market to buy the tins if they still had them.

YEAH the tins were still there.  Now normally I would have just bought them all so I did not regret not following through on my inner buyer.  The other great thing about this flea market is that it is 7 minutes from my home.  I only had to buy 5 tins instead of the 10 I would have originally bought. 





Don't you just love the detail, not too ornate but just right. 

 I am not going to tell you where they are going, that I shall save for another day, oh and I think it will look great.

Thanks for listening to my story, sorry for the whining, mine not the kids.  You can join me with Cindy for Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

15 comments:

  1. Oh, I'm so glad you got the tins! I admire you for even attempting the flea market with your kids. You deserve some sort of medal!

    Love the chandelier, too - great score.

    xo
    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Chandy rocks and the tins are awesome. I have a stash of those in the basement waiting for a good project..
    And I feel you sister- I have 4 kids and when I say flea market or thrift store I can honestly feel them ganging up to kill me :)
    tammy

    ReplyDelete
  3. OOOHHHH what treasures to be found..you did awesome as always:) any gossip???? how does our old shop look???? LOVE...LOVE....LOVE... chandy..stopped by our fave antique store here in Dreading and found a few treasures..getting into school mode:(, so will post pics soon!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. lol, reminds me of going with my kids. What is harding is going to garage sales with them.

    www.retrohousewiferemix.blogspot.com (enter my giveaway)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alaina,

    Love the ceiling tins and can't wait to see how you use them. Those faux roses look so real. I think all kids hate shopping unless there's something in it for them.

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  6. I soooo sympathize with your story!! I really hate taking the kids with me to flea markets! I hate having to bribe them (I have really good kids....don't get me wrong). Flea markets are worth it thought aren't they? I love your tins and can't wait to see what you do with them. The chandelier is awesome!!! You know I love them!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You pulled it off... you got some treaures... it was successful.... even with some grief... you made memories...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really really really like the ceiling tin!!! I saw a couple of projects at a grocery store of all places and now want tin just like yours and i know where to get it!!

    I love your plug about Tim Hortons, and the round doughnut holes are TIM BITS I think you made a typo.

    I used to bribe the kids with Tim bits too. Last time Timmies had the roll up...my daughter won *no joke* 19 times and 2 times rolling up her friends....is that EVER incredible!

    Your chandy is so cute, and it pays sometimes to have a stash does it not?


    Berries.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I remember having to drag the kids EVERYWHERE...thats why I came home with 4 kittens once instead of 1.....As they get older you forget all the tantrums about the other child having a better toy....I forgot about all of these trivial but enormous problems!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Coveting the chandelier, working up my courage to learn to rewire/wire up stuff. I'm a little afraid of electrical wires, even when they're not attached to a power source.

    So, I KNOW!!! I have a trip schedule starting w/Round Top this October, culminating in Brimfield the following September, with about 4 other trips in between, that I thought would be a brilliant homeschooling geography tour coupled with historical excursions and what else, flea markets. I'm pretty much the only one in the "excited" category. Everyone else is hovering between the "no way" and "highly skeptical" categories. We're going, people. Get used to it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I don't know a mother out there that does not occasionaly use bribery, lol! Despite the kiddos you found some awesome treasures! What a lovely, lovely, light fixture. I look forward to seeing what you do with the tin.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cool chandy and wonderful tin, but I'm most jealous that you have a good flea market that close!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. hahaha! great story... I can actually see it all unflolding... can't wait to see the sweet little chandie and the ceiling tins in their new home!

    ReplyDelete
  14. So Timmys has now invaded the great USA? You'll be addicted like all us Canadians!!!

    I love the chandy! You find the best stuff at such great prices.
    I can just see you walking around with complaining kids in tow!! Funny!!
    Have a great weekend Alaina
    Pamela xo

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, it was worth your troubles! My boys have come to love our junking stops. 13 year old looks for baseball cards. 10 yr old looks for marbles and rocks. :P

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy each and every comment you leave. Thanks for stopping by.